Small businesses creating hands-on solutions for a cleaner future
When it comes to sustainability, small businesses in Nova Scotia are making a big impact. You might not know their work by name, but their innovative and practical solutions can be found on rooftops, in basements, behind walls, and under streetlights across the province. Together, businesses like Navigate Energy, LED Roadway Lighting, Thermo Homes Insulators, and Hansen Solar Energy are quietly transforming the way we live, work, and use energy.
Solving real problems
For the business owners we spoke with, creating businesses in sustainability started with a drive to solve problems.
Since 2010, Thermo Homes Insulators has focused on the goal of making homes and commercial properties more comfortable and energy efficient. The business is owned by Leigh-Anne Whynot, Dave Brake, and Jeremy Lutes. “We know that emissions from residential and commercial properties play a big role in the global climate emergency, and we’re seeing utility rates increasing year-over-year,” say Brake and Lutes. “The benefit of reduced energy use by better insulating is a huge motivator for us.”
For Navigate Energy, the drive to start a business came from recognizing a pattern of frustration among clients. “There’s a concerning trend in our industry—most owners who begin energy efficiency projects never reach the goals they set out to achieve,” says Liam Cook, Owner of Navigate Energy. “It became clear that business owners needed a partner who could navigate their energy efficiency upgrades with them. So, we formed Navigate Energy to simplify clean energy upgrades for SMEs.”
At Hansen Solar Energy, the inspiration came from longstanding industry experience and a desire to bring smarter technology home. “Hansen Solar Energy was built on a foundation of over 50 years of experience in the electrical industry, proudly led by the Hansen family,” says Caleb Dawson, Operations Manager in Nova Scotia. “We saw a growing need for smarter, more sustainable solutions in the region and decided to meet it head-on.”
Meanwhile, a public safety mission sparked a cleantech evolution for the team at LED Roadway Lighting, which was founded by Chuck Cartmill in 2007. “While the original focus was exclusively on LED streetlighting, our business has evolved significantly,” says Co-CEO Ken Cartmill. “All of our innovations remain centered around the streetlight. At its core, streetlighting is a public safety asset, and our mission continues to be enhancing public safety through cleantech solutions.”
Shifting perceptions
Despite growing interest in sustainability, there are still common misconceptions about the cost of clean energy, the impact of basic upgrades, and the nature of smart city technology. “One of the biggest misconceptions surrounding solar energy is that it’s simply too expensive,” says Dawson. “But thanks to evolving technology, competitive pricing, and a wide range of available incentives, going solar has never been more financially accessible.”
Brake and Lutes agree that not enough people realize how powerful something as simple as insulation can be. “What I wish more people knew is that insulation makes a big difference, even though you don’t always see it,” they say. “Once it’s installed, it keeps working for years, quietly helping to save energy every day.”
For Cartmill, the challenge is overcoming fears around surveillance. “The most common misconception is the fear of surveillance—that smart city technology is about ‘Big Brother’ watching,” he says. “Privacy is being taken seriously now at local government levels, and it’s not a topic that gets a lot of attention.”
In Cook’s experience, the biggest barrier is confusion. “SMEs often lack the technical knowledge, staff capacity, and financial resources to get everything they want from their energy efficiency upgrades,” he says. “The key is working with someone who understands how to navigate the funding landscape and implement solutions that match your specific needs.”
Designing for Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia’s climate poses particular challenges, but local businesses are rising to the occasion. “At Hansen Solar Energy, we design every solar system with Nova Scotia’s unique seasonal climate in mind,” says Dawson. “During high-production months, your system often generates more electricity than you use. Thanks to Nova Scotia Power’s Net Metering Program, that extra energy doesn’t go to waste—it’s banked and saved as credit on your account.”
Brake and Lutes emphasize the importance of air sealing and modern insulation materials. “We’re seeing more demand for high-performance products like spray foam, better air sealing, and insulation systems that meet or exceed building code,” they say. “With the new code changes coming into effect that put a focus on air tightness, we are now offering a guaranteed test below 1 ACH for any new home that chooses our services.”
Cook notes that Nova Scotia’s energy goals also offer a clear roadmap. “If you live or work in HRM, the Halifax Chamber’s SME Transition to Net-Zero and HRM’s HalifACT Climate Action Plan are worth a read to see where we have to head,” he says. “We’re seeing our business community embrace this challenge.”
Community impact
What unites these businesses is a belief that their work helps both their clients and communities.
In Aruba, LED Roadway Lighting completed a project that created more than 50% energy savings. But what stood out most to Cartmill wasn’t the numbers.
“They sacrificed a small percentage of the savings to provide lighting to underserved communities which never had street lighting before,” he says. “The night after one community’s new lighting installation, all of the neighbours came out and put their chairs in the street under the new lights. There was a real appreciation that the government was investing in their community.”
Navigate Energy has seen similar social impact here at home. “In late 2023, Bide Awhile Animal Shelter’s Executive Director was struggling with a necessary heating system upgrade,” says Cook. “We secured two additional quotes, each $120,000 less than what they’d been able to find on their own. Over the next 12 months, the shelter invested savings into further upgrades that improved comfort, safety, and long-term maintenance.”
For Brake and Lutes, the impact is often quiet, but powerful. “When people understand that better insulation and air sealing means lower energy use, more comfortable spaces, and a smaller environmental footprint, it’s clear this has a big impact—both now and for future generations.”
Looking ahead
With shifting policies, advancing technology, and growing public awareness, the future is bright for clean energy. “What excites me most is the potential for technology to make cities not just more efficient, but more equitable and resilient,” says Cartmill. “From AI-enabled traffic systems that reduce emissions and congestion, to connected lighting that improves safety in underserved areas—the opportunities to make real, meaningful impacts are enormous.”
Cook is optimistic about economic momentum. “Energy efficiency isn’t just a good business practice—it creates local jobs, it builds community resiliency, it increases occupant comfort, and it makes living our lives more affordable,” he says.
Dawson adds that clean energy can power a whole new generation of opportunities. “Transitioning to a greener energy future doesn’t just support environmental progress,” he says. “It creates meaningful, long-term employment opportunities in engineering, construction, maintenance, manufacturing, and cleantech innovation.”
Brake and Lutes see continued momentum in building performance. “The industry is shifting from ‘good enough’ to ‘how good can we make it?’ And that’s a positive change for both people and the planet.”
